5. Screen: Good Brightness And Contrast

As mentioned earlier, the screen measures 15.4" and features WUXGA+ resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. HP also offers an entry-level model with SXGA+ resolution (1680x1050 pixels). The screen with WUXGA+ resolution is the better choice for CAD applications, however, as it offers enormous detail depth for work with fine lines.

With a maximum brightness of 141 cd/m² (average value 123.2 cd/m²), the screen is sufficiently bright. However, the average blackness value of 0.46 cd/m² is relatively high. Therefore, the screen displays entirely black images in a somewhat grayish black, not deep black. The average B/W contrast is approximately 266:1, a value that is not superb, but still acceptable. As is the case with most laptops, the outdoor performance of the screen is limited. Nevertheless, the display contrast is more than adequate for indoor use. All in all, the brightness distribution and the contrast are quite homogeneous when looking at the screen from a straight angle. Only the left edge appears a bit darker than the rest of the screen.